If you have read my thread about the 150 SMK's and my 6.5 x 284, you know I had success and failure! The 150's shot great out of the 4 groove "conventional" rifling barrel, with a 1-7.5 twist. However, after 15+ rounds the bullets were coming apart and blowing up prior to getting to the target. After speaking with Tommy Todd at Sierra, he was perplexed and that started a ball rolling for an investigation at Sierra. Tommy called "Mike", the sales manager at Krieger, to see if there was a known problem with bullets blowing up from their barrels. I spoke with Tommy at the Berger S.W. Nationals and he gave me the contact info for Mike. I spoke with Mike and without A LOT of testing the culprit APPEARS to be: 1.) The length of bearing surface of the 150's coupled with; 2.) the 4 groove "conventional" rifling and the 3.) 1-7.5 twist, in conjunction with 4.) the speed of the 150s being pushed by the 6.5 x 284..
It does NOT appear to be anyone's (either Krieger, Sierra or mine following the twist recommendation) fault or problem. However, Mike. from Krieger, asked me to send my barrel back and they will replace it FOR FREE with the 5 R rifling, so the "blow-ups" cease! Does Customer Service EVER get any BETTER than that!!!
It does NOT appear to be anyone's (either Krieger, Sierra or mine following the twist recommendation) fault or problem. However, Mike. from Krieger, asked me to send my barrel back and they will replace it FOR FREE with the 5 R rifling, so the "blow-ups" cease! Does Customer Service EVER get any BETTER than that!!!
Last edited: